Method of and apparatus for treating latex



I 4, 1950 R. H. FASH 2,502,445

msmon OF AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING LATEX Filed June 26, 41942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 R. H. FASH METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING LATEX April 4, 1950 2 hee t s sheet 2 Filed June 26, 1942 alnuuni. "nu".... unnnnnnu Patented Apr. 4, 1950 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING LATEX Ralph H. Fash, Fort Worth, Tex., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Anderson, Clayton & Co., Houston, Tex., a corporation of Delaware Application June 26, 1942, Serial No. 448,662

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to method and apparatus for the treatment of latex whereby to produce a superior rubber- Natural latex, from whatever source. derived, is a negatively charged'colloidal suspension of hydrocarbons in water which also contains various other substances, such as proteins, resins, and sugar. The present invention is applicable to the treatment of all natural latices, and, also, of such synthetic varieties wherein the rubber is present as a charged colloidal suspension.

In the prior methods of coagulating latex, it has been impossible to efiect anything like thorough neutralization of the charges on the rubber particles, and consequently these mutually repellent particles formed capillary openings in the coagulum which persisted and thus prevented the complete fusion of the rubber particles. The object of the present invention is to effect neutralization of the electrical charges on the rubber particles to an extent heretofore impossible, and in this manner to arrive at a product which is superior by reason of the substantial absence of the capillary openings which were heretofore inescapable.

In the smoking method of coagulation which has long been practiced, it has been thought that coagulation is brought about by the increase in temperature and the action of the chemical agents present in the smoke. In my view, however, the major function of the smoke is the electrical neutralization of the rubber particles, this occurring by reason of the fact that some of the smoke particles are oppositely, i. e., positively, charged. While the smoke particles are highly dispersed, those of the latex are not, and consequently no satisfactory contact can be made between the.

the coagulated .rubber contains groups of.electrically neutral, negatively charged, and positively charged rubber particles. Groups of negatively charged particles and groupsof positively charged particles will each act to form the capillary openings above mentioned.

According to the present invention, the latex and the coagulant are intimately mixed to gether while both are in mist form, e., in the form of aerosols, the coagulant acting to neutralize the charges on the rubber particles so that I LIhe. rubber the final product will contain few, if any, charged particles. The ideal condition for coagulation,

in accordance with the invention, is to neutralize the electrical charges on the rubber particles in the latex without at the same time causinga reversal of charges or leaving any appreciable amount of negatively charged particles. The nearest approach to this ideal is attained by treating the latex with positively charged particles using my mist-mixing procedure, or with acid, maintaining the pH at the iso-electric point of the rubber, and using mist-mixing. The isoelectric point represents the conditions at which a colloidal suspension will flocculate because the colloidal particles are electrically neutral, and for rubber the pH is between 4 and 5.

Any positively charged particles, solid, liquid, or

gaseous, may be used with my mist-mixing procedure to effect the coagulation of the rubber particles in latex. Their effectiveness is dependent upon the charges available on the particles and the uniformity and intimacy of their contact with the rubber particles. Electrical charges can be induced on particles and gases by passing them, for example, through a high-tension electric field of the charge desired to be induced. The extent of thecharge is dependent upon the voltage of the field and the nature and surface of the particles. Hence,- gases are relatively inefficient for rapidly coagulating large amounts of latex.

Finely powdered sulfur, suspended preferably in-an inert gas, can be. positively charged and then mixed with the latex by my mist-mixing procedure, resulting in coagulating the rubber and simultaneously coating the electrically neutral rubber particles with sulfur, thus approaching the perfect condition for vulcanization as regards dispersion of the sulfur. The use of colloida1 sulfur is preferred because of the greater surface offered and the thinner layer formed on the rubber particles. Colloidal sulfur can be formed by the reaction between hydrogen sulphide and sulfur dioxide and can beobtained already positively chargedby mixing the reactants and subjecting themixture to the action of ultra-violet i h 1 industry has determinedjthat the sulfurused in vulcanization actually combines with the rubber hydrocarbon in the proportion of one molecule of the rubber hydrocarbon to two atoms of sulfur, the formula of. the resultant compound being (C10H16S2)n, where n represents an unknown number of molecules combined together to form the actual rubber-sulfur compound. This compound contains 32% sulfur. In actual practice in the manufacture of rubber goods.

other than hard rubber, much less than 32% sulfur is used. As one example, 8 pounds of sulfur are used in the mix where softeners are used and only 1.2 pounds used where accelerators replace the softeners. The large difference in the amount of .sulfurrequired without andwith .ac-.

celerators',gand-the the fact thatiin both cases-: the amount of sulfur is much less than that required to combine with the entire amount of rub-.

ber affords a basis for a new concept of the mechanism of vulcanization.

Gelatine is brittle, yet when a small amount. is dissolved in water a large amount of water can. assume a relatively stable form. When.the.cor.- rect amount of a caustic soda solution in water: is added to a water solution of a chromic salt, a jelly is formed similar in appearance to that='ob-- tained by dissolving gelatine in water. The gel.

formed from the solution of the chromic salt owes its stability to .the chromic oxide formed by, the action .of theicaustic soda on the 'chromic salt; only aj'small proportion of ftherchromic salth'eing; used "in: the reaction. There are mumerousex amples of .similar jelly; formations."

Some gels; especially on" aging; crack 'andthe liquid 'constituentsof the gel exudes when pos sible.. Thisis termedsyneresis. Improper-methods of 'gelfformati'on, such as non-uniformityof distribution, will cause syneresis.

It :is. my opinion, based on ;a" consideration .of facts known to .the rubber industry, .mconjunmv tion with .the above facts of "j elly'formation; that the process of vulcanization is essentially, one .of

jelly formation, the rubberhydrocarbon'; as such; 3,).

acting as 'the liquid constituent .of "the jelly and the rubber-sulfur compound corresponding to the gelatine or the ,ch'romic .oxide in the above 'examples of "jelly formation;

Before submitting "the reasoning; back of the '1 above statement that vulcanization is essentially gel formation, there;are'.additional ideas which should :berpresented'. Whenrubberis' vulcanized by heating, using softeners-without accelerators;

all of the sulfurpdoes notimmediately"combine'. with; the rubber hydrocarbons even thoughthe vulcanization time'ismuchlonger than thatused when accelerators are present: Free sulfur is" thus-present in the-final product. On agingat: ordinary temperatures; there? is a" graduai 1m crease in the' amount ofthe'combined sulfur in dicating thatthereactionbetween the rubber hydrocarbon and sulfurdoes: not require" high temperatures.

In the" literature; the opinion has been .expressed that the individual rubber hydrocarbon particles 'irrlatex'are" composed. of a' liquid "center and anouter' polymerized film havlng a-icomposition identicalwith'that'of thecenter. I agree thatthere is an apparentfilm, .but'I believe'the: idea that the membrane ;effectiis due" topoly merization-js :incorrect. Inimy, opinion, ,theap parent Lmemb'rane. iscoccasioned. byyth'e i-nega'tive electrical; charges; on the rubber. hydrocarbon; particles; There is :nospplymerizationzofihe rub: b'er hydrocarbon-in-the outer layer-of atrubber hyadrocarbonparticlee. The fact .that coherent films; of Jrubbenaresformed in-.the .-.electro;-deposition;of 5 rubber.fromlatex;wherenoacidzis addedfis .anine di'cationthat ;there; is no... truer. membrane; sure:

rounding the ;.rubber particles suspended .inzthe 5 lat,ex.;. Aiconsideration of jother apparent meme braneswhereanonedszactually present wilLhelpgtoz: an; understanding ..ofjthe.subjectii.

sumes a convex surface and that of water a concave surface. These conditions are stated to be due to surface tension and are occasioned by the free energy on the surface of the liquids. The mercury surface especially seems to have a membrane.

Incthe literature, the statement is found that the .rubber; hydrocarbon particles .fuse together during acid coagulation. If there were actually agmembrane of polymerization rubber hydrocarb'on, this could not occur. If the so-called membranewere only a condition due to the electrical charges, the destruction of the electrical charges would permit the particles to unite.

Thefact that combination occurs between free sulfur and: the rubber hydrocarbon at ordinary temperatures after'vulcanization indicates that the delay-in th'ereaction has been due to the lack of contact between the hydrocarbon and the sulfur. The softeners used before accelerators were substituted, facilitated this. contact, ,while. ac-

celerators "hastened .the contact.thereby .permitting the use of only one-seventh .of the amount: of sulfur in the example igiven'above: There are nofacts'availablezto indicate that the use of accelerators as now practiced .has resulted in'using; the minimum amount of sulfur. Tests show that" the lower the vulcanization coeflicient' the stronger the'rubber and thelonger its life.

In the vulcanization" of rubber as .now prac ti'ced; the sulfur and accelerators are mixed withthe coagulated'rubbeniobtainedj by treating the' latex with acid, bypassing through. heated rolls. When theinadequacy of "mixing, immiscible liquids 1is considered"as 'regards uniformity of dis*.

tribution, the non-uniformity of mixing obtained." bymixing a plastic, suchas rubber, with. sulfur; The present time. of .'vul-;

is readily, apparent. canization is measured in fractions of "an'hour evenat the high temperatures: employed. This time. is required, .as I see it,' to permitthe ac-.

celerator to bring the sulfur in contact with therubber hydrocarbon. If .the distribution of jsulvulcanization would be. materially less. the use of accelerators mayreduce the amount of free sulfur present in rubber after vulcanization, the distribution of the rubber hydrocarbon- .sulfur compoundiwill be'non -uniform, so that.

cracking, theequivalent'to syneresis, will ,eventually result" A more uniform and'intimate distribution of.the.sulfur materially increases the strength andlife .of rubber- The ideal distribus. i ti'on would be to coat each of the rubber particles. in latex with aufilm of'sulfur, as by the use of.

my mist-mixing, procedure.

Carbon black; largely used as a filler, has particlesalready positively charged. In the present-day. use of carbon black; it is .rolled. into .the rubber. and, .hence,. h'as,unsatisfactory. di'stribu=- tion' therein, rendering, it.impossible-. to effectthorough neutralization; of ..'the..-.rubber., particles; My.mist-mixingiprocedure-provides 1a. properdise.- persiorrmechanisin,v enablinggeffective;neutralizae tion". of the*rubber; particles;.to.;take:oplace..v The; carbon'black; in:.its':natura1ly, charged ,..condition,:. and; thelatex; are: mist-mixed. or. additional.

chargesxmay be :imposedion the; carbon black .by

The surfacee of. mercury, in;..a.. smalltubje ass 75 mist-inixedwith.thelatex;.

cally charged.

111 bothjgelatine and chromic oxide jellies, the selatine and chromic oxide consist of electrically chargedcolloids. Therefore, by analogy, the rubher hydrocarbon-sulfur compound which causes soft vulcanized rubber is probably also electri- When more sulfur is used than isrequiredto form, the jelly structure of soft vulcanized rubber, the excess sulfur also com.-. bines with the rubber hydrocarbon, gradually thickening the uncombined rubber hydrocarbon untilhardrubber is produced. If the minimum amount of sulfur needed to produce v a jelly is used, such as occurs when using my mist-mixing procedure of coagulating the latex withelectrically charged colloidal sulfur, a low temperature anda short-time of heating will be required to vulcanize- The jelly (vulcanized rubber) will have the longest life before cracking (syneresis). Byadding electrically charged carbon black with the charged colloidal sulfur the practically complete neutralization of the electrical charges on the rubber particles in the latex will be obtained and at the same time the carbon black will be incorporated in the coagulum so that it will reinforce the jelly (vulcanized rubber) when the rubber mixisheated to vulcanize the rubber (produce-the jelly). mInstead of carbon black, other active fillers such aszinc oxide, basic magnesium carbonate, etc., maybe used, having charges imposed thereon where .necessary. Also compounding ingredients, which act chiefly as diluents, such as chalk, barytes, infusorial earths, etc., finely divided and charged, can be used.

, .;Any liquid containing materials which it is desired v to incorporate in the rubber, may be charged andmist-mixed with the latex for the purpose of coagulating the latex and simultaneously uniformly distributing the material in theliquid throughout the resultant coagulum. Liquid vulcanizing agents, such as sulfur monochloride,. trinitrobenzene, etc., direct or in solution, may beused in this manner.

. Mixtures of any of the materials may be charged and used as above described. Whatever thespecific composition of the particles may be, they are used in such amount, carry such charges,

' and are so dispersed in the latex that substantially all of the ;rubber particles in the latex will beneutralized. For the best results, the paricles should be of colloidal proportions, being thus best adapted for interaction with the colloidal rubber particles in the latex.

, Examples of suitable apparatus for carrying out the invention are shown in the accompanyingdrawings to which reference will now be made. I

. In,the drawings: 7 Figurel shows a system partly in elevation and partly in sectionfor the dispersion-of charged particles in :latex' tion. I I Figure 2 is a section substantially on line 2- -2 offfieure 1. v, 3 I a ;,Figure 31's an enlarged axial section of certain parts which appear in elevation in Fig. l. .,.;l.igure- 4, shows,- partly in elevation and partly in section; another form of feeding means for the substances, and

in accordance witlrthe inven- Figure 5 shows, in vertical sectionya still fur-- ther form of feeding means forfthe substances. I ferringfirstto Figs. 1, 2, and 3,,reference numeral l0 designates a chamber having top and. bottom walls II and I2 .and acylindrical wall l3 provided 'with aiacket, l4. .the. jacket having an inlet. I5 and an outlet l6 for a temperature con-1 circular bottom disc 2| having a central bottom boss 22 in which the upper end of shaft I6 is threaded. The boss :22 has a threaded cavity in which is threaded the stem portion of a basket 23 which has cylindrical sidewalls provided with a multiplicity of radial openings 24. Threaded in a cavity in the bottom of basket 23 is a basket 25 whose cylindrical side walls, concentric with the side walls of basket 23, are provided with a multiplicity of axially extending slits 26. At its outer periphery, plate 23 has a multiplicity ofblades 2'! arranged. concentrically with the baskets, these blades defining a multiplicity of axially extending slitsZil. Reference numeral 29 designates an annular top plate which closes the space between basket 23 and blades 21, being connected to plate 2| bymeans of bolts 30 and spacers 3|.

Projecting through top H coaxially with head I9 is a tube 32 which, at its lower end, has an annular flare 33. The tube passes through a. stufling box in the top wall H, and its lowerportion is supported by a yoke 34 provided with a number of radial adjusting and locking screws 35. Above the top H, tube 32 is threaded into a T 36 into which is connected a pipe 31 which has interposed therein a pump 38. Pipe 31 is con' nected into a T 39, from which branches 40 and 4! lead to the bottoms of tanks 42 and 43. Shut-, off and control valves 44 and 45 are interposedin pipes 40 and 4|, respectively.

A pipe 46 extends downwardly through a stuffing box at the top of T 36 and through tube 32, its lower end being adapted to be centered, with respect to the tube 32 by means of radial adjusting screws 41. At its lower end tube 46 has threaded thereon a fitting 48 which has a flare 49 cooperating with flare 33 to provide a nozzle adapted to deliver a'c'onical spray. This nozzle, designated generally by the reference numeral 50, is disposed within basket 23 above basket 25 andextends circumferentially outwardly of the latter, so as to deliver into the basket 23. The lower end of pipe 46 has zle 5| which is adapted to deliver into the innermost basket 25, the delivery being preferably in the form of a hollow cone.

Above T 36,

threaded therein a nozpipe 46 has interposed therein athree-way valve 52. A hopper 53 is in connection with the inlet "of a blower 54 whose outlet is in connection with the top of pipe 46, and a feed. regulator 53a, of any desired type, is interposed betwe'en'the hopper and blower.- Valve 52 in one: position opens pipe 46 and'in its other position '1' connects a pipe 55 into pipe 46 below thevalve,-,. cutting off the connectionwith blower 54. ;The valve will, for the moment, he assumed to. be in imBiMs ample; by/-.-'sub5ectio1r to fa sultableueiectric fieldi- Tube 46, nozzle 5|, valve 52, hopper 53yregula'tor 53a; blower :5f4*,:and pipe 55,.- in this: case; are prefera-bl y :of non-sconducting material or else their surfaces which wouldbeicontacted by the'charged 'sultur particles are insulated. By opening valve hand running pump 38, latex willbedelivered into. ther basket 23 and- '-will emerge' through theopeningso'fzthe latter as a mist: or: aerosol. Blower '54 being driven, nozzle 5| will deliver the *sulfur, suspended in a gas, preferably inert, into -..-the innermost. basket 25. Thesulfur-thusdelivered will be'more or less'in'the form of particle clusterswhich-willbe broken up into "individual particles, i*.'*e.,--a-tomized,=inpassing through the openings of baskets 'z fiand 2-3; The" latex" and the-sulfur will emerge in upper andlower-"mist strata ir'om'the openings of basket 2-3, but; these strata will be immediately impinged"and'beatentogether by the spacers 3.1; and will. emerge "from the knives. 2!

as a homogeneous mist .mi-xture. Bythis time the (:liarges on the sulfur "particlesjhaveacted liq-neutralize the charges-'onfthe; rubber particles. The mist 'collects on 'wall' ll.3."'and' runs "down the same to the bottom 12, "from which .it flows through'an opening 56 "for collection and separation.

In order to prevent-the .coagulumfrom building. upon the walls l2 and I3, I. ma provide a scraper as shownfin. Figs. '-1..:and'2.. In .theseifi ures' reference numeral 51 designatesv a ring journall'ed. on the .lower portion. .of housing [1 and. having fixedjthereto ascrapercomprising. a radial. arm .58 gprofjecting from. thexringand working Qver,p1ate.l.2.,,.an.d a. verticaLportion .59 working: over lthe'inner surfacerci shell 1.3.. Ring Wis formed with. asurmounting ring. gear 60 engaged by a pinion .6 l onthe. shaft of. amotor 62 mounted, onihousing 1.1,. and the- Wiresfor themotor may be led thereto throughftheyhousing H. .A channel-shaped annular guard 63 fixed. toihousing l1 encloses gear. -60; and. pinionifi l and a housing. I 64 isprovided. for .thelmotor. .In.this way theseparts, areicompletely protectedfrom the. material-in the.

chamber; -1?ortion,-58 of; the; scraper movesv the i gathered. material up to; opening 56'on :each rotation.

In uiewiof-thecomplete.- dispersiom of the sulfur particles in thelatex, the-quantity=ofi sulfur used,

safer-as that necessary for vulcanization isconcerned, may=beextremely:smalliand considerably less than that. necessary- .prior commercial; practice. The. chargesjon the-sulfur :should. balance .thOSEiHIQIl. the :rubberwand, consequently, if:

the sulfiur alone -is:relied. on.-forneutralization, it must-beih-ighly charged. However; in order-to increase the number of positirelyxchargeda particles, is. positively charged .filler; preferably carbon black;. 'can,..be mixed with the sulfur-in hopper-5'3. In: thi'ssmanner. both. the4sulfur'rand the filler will; basimultaneouslyincorporated:in.the;..latex:. In iiieiwrofiwtheaismalliamount '01 'vulcanizing agent; necessary, theachargingvstep.may:bezomittedsasio. its-and:theicharges on the filleraneliedzon formedtralizatiQn (if the zgrubber. particles... .:A1so, if. itJ-iS. nQtwdes'ired-i'to. addithe; sulfmtcatz this point, .:only' carbon. black: :o r-other-.'suita;b1y-rcharged material in particle form can be fedz'fromhopper. 53.

Br intr due ngi th uIiuriiritcrthe:latex b my mistemi-xing pr cedure; the intcrspersion 10fv the two; will'gbe; sQJthQIQugh thahitr'wilrnot baneces :garyi'to nse-ian=accel 'ljator. .-.-An.-.accelerator:.mays.

however-,.:b.e :addeii, undesired ndin this case fiif pewderedzmascbe. mixed withfithesulfur in -hopper -53. wKnti-eoxidanta; and other ingreliieriiis-.. may besimilarlyadded'. Y In the .case*of a.iliquid vulcanizing agentg :valve. 52 isadjusted to bring pipe 55 into' connecti'on with tube-46 and-theapparatusshownalt 'the up per right, Fig. is iused. Referring tothis part. of-the apparatus, reterencenumeral 65 d'esignates. a tankof' rectangular section and having parallel sidewalls 66' and 6 1'. A pipe-61 for the vulcania ing agent is I led th-roughthe top wall of -the tanl to a spray head-68 adapted'to delivena-sheet spray parallel to 1 wall-"66 downwardly past apositive electrode 69 which, through'insulati0n," isported by the 'si'cl'e Wall. Side iwall -6'l similarly supports a negative electrode 'Hl oppositeelc iz'rode-tt. Reference numeral H designates- Ta trough, preferablyor non-conductive materiali, disposed. below nozzle- 6,8v and adapted'to catch. the sprayv from the-latter afterfi-t ghas passedi bej tween the electrodes and *closentdtheaanodesso. thatxthe; particles-will be pOSiti-VlyfbhillgBd-L The.

' spray-should be as fine as -'possible--.a-nd-'the teriri I as here used includes the mist form. A'conduit;

' described;

12 of non-conductingmaterial leads from trough H to a blower13whose-outletis inconnectionwith pipe 55. The blower'is-made of non-conductive material, or is so insulated asnotto substantially abstract the charges from the-spray, and itfiwill be recalled that: pipe- 55 is cfnon-cond'ucti-ve Ina-- terial. A valved jair inlet is "indicatedtat 65kt anda valved drainage outlet for condensate at65b.

In the operation of this apparatus, theliqui-d vulcanizing agent is supplied underpres'sureiin regulated amount tonozzle 68,-and thespray, after being charged, is deliveredbyithe blower tolnoz:

zle 5|. The'latex. isvsupplied, asbefcre, by nozzle 50, and-the two-substances 'are'atomized and inti mately mixed by-head f9 inthe mannerpreviously;

With referenceto head 1'9, it should "be men ti'oned that 'thebasket 25:canbe omitted and the' nozzles 5 El and- 51 may-'- be sodesigned and related? I that conical sprays "clelivered thereby will 11m:

pinge prior't'o reaching the Wallof basket-F23. The same atomization and mixing will cccur'while. passin between "basket- 23 and-"theperiphery of the head. In this connection-,reference is made to my co-pending'applicatiomSerialNo. 438,954;

filed April 14, 1942, now Patent No. 2341,5363 granted February 15', 1944, for illustrations oi? othersuitable 'fee'cling means-fora plurality-of substances. If it is desired to promote vulcanization instant-a ly,'a heated fluid-maybe suppliedtofthe jacket-l4. This will not ordinarily be desired,- -however, and, rather, it will be preferable to inhibit Vul'canizing action at this stage. Consequently, wall is .will ordinarily be unheated, and if necessary-,;a-"coolant canbe supplied toth-e jacket to lower" the tem perature or wall= 'l'3-"to-anydesired'- degree. Of course, any liquid containing-materialwhic it is, desired to. incorporate in the rubber mayi'lb'e supplied through pipe 6-1", with" thejelectrodes charged, or uncharged, as required. "Also; such? liquidscan'be'su pned. ircies r urrrom the tanlr 4.2. H Figure 4 shows an. apparatus-designed."ior the production and supply" ofcharged"colloiitlaksuliuiy to the centrifugal head, the headbein fdesignate'd by-tthe reference numeral. 14 'and'being the'same. as thehead- I 91 of the previdusfigutes, "except th t thesdnnermost basket is "omitted, 1 "Theiii'head'gjis mountedin ajackete'di chamber as be' fore.

5 Reference; numeral. Eli-designates. a tube;

75. erablymtnonsconductiye'materiah vertically-hiss posed above head 14, as here shown, although this particular disposition is merely a matter of choice. The lower end of tube 15 is contracted, and by means of a bent tubing section 16 is in cnnection with a port 11 of a nozzle 18, which is arranged coaxially with head 14. Nozzle 18 has a tubular portion 19 defining a cavity 80 bounded upwardly by a partition wall 8! above which is a chamber 82 in connection with port TI. Threaded in a vertical opening in wall BI is a tube 83 which is in spaced concentric relation with tubular portion 19 and constitutes an inner nozzle in connection with tube 15. A pipe 84 is in connection with port 85 of body 18, the port communicating with cavity 80. Tubular portion 79 constitutes an outer nozzle for delivery of the latex which is supplied to pipe 84 by means of a pump 86 from a source of supply not shown. Tubing l6 and the nozzle 18 are preferably made of nonductive material, although pipe 84 may be of ordinary metal.

, Pipes 81 and 88 are connected into tube 15 at longitudinally spaced points, and these pipes are either of non-conductive material or are insulated from the ground. Below pipe 88 a mercury arc lamp 89 is disposed concentrically in tube 15 and has leads carried through the wall of the latter, the leads including rod-like conductive portions 90 and 9! set in stuffing boxes in the tube wall and serving to support the lamp. f In the operation of this apparatus, hydrogen sulphide is supplied to the upper end of tube 15 in controlled volume, and sulfur dioxide is supplied in controlled volume through pipe 88. A controlled volume of an inert gas will ordinarily be supplied through pipe 81, although, if desired, an excess of one of the other gases may be used and the inert gas omitted. In any event a reaction, catalyzed by the ultraviolet rays, takes place between the hydrogen sulphide and the sulfur dioxide, so that positively charged colloidal sulfur suspended in the inert gas and/or the excess of one of the other gases, is formed. The charged colloidal sulfur and the latex are delivered by nozzle 18 into the basket of the centrifugal head and are atomized and mixed as before. When it is desired to incorporate a filler, such as carbon black in the rubber, the carbon black, in precharged condition, may be introduced with the inert gas through pipe 81. Of course, any

other necessary component can be introduced in the same manner, precharged or not. On the other hand, the carbon black or any other desired ingredient can be introduced through a third nozzle portion of nozzle 18, such a triple nozzle being disclosed in my application above mentioned.

In Figure reference numeral 92 designates a chamber like that shown at H] in Figure 1, the chamber being similarly provided with scraping means. The head 14 is disposed and mounted exactly as the head l9 of Figure 1 and the head 14 of Figure 4.

Disposed above the head coaxially therewith and with its open end down, is a bell-shaped metal member 93 whose lower edge is bent back, as at 94, to provide a rounded extremity. Bell 93 has a lateral flanged port 95, and through insulation 96 is connected and supported by a conduit 9'! which is supported from the top of the chamber 92 by a hanger 98 and extends with a fluid-tight fit through a side opening of the chamber to a blower 99. The bell has at its top end an axial opening defined by a flange I00, and through this opening extends a tube llll of non-conducting material, the tube extending slidably' through a packing in the top wall of chamber 92. The tube can be axially adjusted relative to the bell 93 and maintained in adjusted position by bolts I02 threaded in flange Hill. The outer end of tube I0! is connected to a pipe I03 through which latex can be supplied in regulated amount from a source not shown. Fixed in the bell 93 are a number of metal screens lMwhich are'in good electrical contact wit the bell.

Reference numeral H15 designates a hopper, here shown as having two compartments I06 and. H11 whose delivery can be controlled or'shut ofi by gates Hi8 and I09, respectively. Below the gates is a feed wheel I II! which is adapted to feed material from either or both of the hopper compartments into conduit 91 by means of a pipe III which has a lower end in the conduit bent away from the blower 99. a The lower end of tube i0! is belled and receives the upper portion of a pointed deflecting boss H2 fixed in the head on the axis thereof.

Bell 93, which is completely insulated from the rest of the apparatus, is in connection with the positive leadfrom a high voltage source, the negative wire being grounded on the metal chamber, and thence in connection with the metal head 14f through the conductive supporting means for the latter.

Latex supplied to the tube IOI strikes the element H2 by means of which it is deflected as a conical spray to the basket walls for atomization. Assuming hopper I06 to contain finely powdered sulfur and hopper ID! to contain carbon black, either one or both can be admitted in regulated quantity to conduit 91 and, blower 99 being in operation, a cloud of particles is passed to bell 93 and downwardly through the screens I04, which form a part of the anode, so that positive charges will be imposed on the particles in passing through the screens whose mesh can be such as to pass the particles without clogging, the several screens being relied on for the thorough contacting of the particles. The particles thus positively charged, impinge on the spray of latex and during the instantaneous atomizing and mixing action which follows, they act to neutralize the charges on the rubber particles in the latex.

As was stated at the outset, and as is well known, the charges on the rubber particles in latex are negative and consequently I have hereinabove spoken of the interspersion with the latex of positively charged particles. If the latex has been initially treated with sufiicient acid to cause a reversal of the charge on the rubber particles, then it would be within the contemplation of the present invention to treat this product with a negatively charged coagulant for the purpose of rendering the rubber particles electrically neutral. It will be further understood that the invention contemplates all variations in procedure and apparatus falling within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. The method of treating latex, which comprises forming an intimate mist mixture of latex and an acid While maintaining the pH substantially at the iso-electric point of the rubber, causing the serum of the latex to re-assume the liquid state and. separating the coagulant from the liquid.

2. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a centrifugal atomizing and mixing head,

means for feeding to said head a substance havattain-&8

ingparticles whichare electrically charged-;:means for'fe'edinganother substance in particle-form to said head; said head being adapted to atomize and intimately mix therein the fed substances and centrifugally expel-themist-mixture circumferentially of the head and means'for electrically charging the'particles of said other substance oppositely to thefirst-mentioned particles during feed so that upon atomization and mixing of the substances in said head, said first-mentioned particles will be electrically neutralized.

3'; Apparatus of theclass described, comprising a centrifugal atomizlng andmixing head having a central opening, concentric feed conduits arranged t'o'deliver t0 said opening, said head being adapted to 'at'omize and intimately mix therein the substances received from -said conduits and centrifugally expel the 'mist mixture circumferentially of the head, and means for establishing an electrical field in one of said conduits whereby to electrically charge particles fed 'therethrough.

4. Apparatus of the class described, comprising an electrically conductive centrifugal atomizing and mixing head having an axial inlet opening, a plurality of concentrical tubular means opposite said opening, one of said tubular means being electrically-c'onductive, means for-separately feeding a plurality: of substances in regulated proportions to said tubular means for delivery to said head, said head being adapted to atomize and intimately mixtherein the substances "received from saidtubularmeansand centrifugally expel the mist mixture circumferentia'lly of the head, and means'for leading-one side of 'a'hig'h voltage source to :"said head-and the other side to said conductive tubular meanswhereby to -es- 12 itablishafield through'which one of the-'fedsub stances passes.

RALPH H. FASH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 850,965- Ranson Apr. 28, 1907 1,338,352 Bloom Apr. '27, 1920 1,423,525 Hopkinson July '25, '1922 1,428,526 Bradley Sept. "12, 1922 1,492,027 Gardner Apr. 29, 1924 1,546,922 Faber 'July 21, 1925 1,611,278" Peterson Dec. 21,1926 1,622,474 Sveen Mar. '29, 1927 2,002,252 Stam May '21, 1935 2,043,217 Yaglon June 2, 1936 2,047,525 Thode July '14, 1936 2,123,482 deJong July 12, 1938 "2,249,205 Hansen July 15, 1941'- 2,'270,341 Ransburg Jan. 20,1942 2,280,802 Depends Apr. 28, 1942 2,302,289 Cook Nov. 17,1942 2,341,536 Fash Feb. 15, 19.44

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 16,096 GreatBritain 1914 OTHER. REFERENCES.

Mellors Treatiseon Inorganic and Theoretical,

Chemistry, vol. 8, ;pp. .-184, l35, 203,;and 204; 

1. THE METHOD OF TREATING LATEX, WHICH COMPRISES FORMING AN INTIMATE MIST MIXTURE OF LATEX AND AN ACID WHILE MAINTAINING THE PH SUBSTANTIALLY AT THE ISO-ELECTRIC POINT OF THE RUBBER, CAUSING THE SERUM OF THE LATEX TO RE-ASSUME THE LIQUID STATE AND SEPARATING THE COAGULANT FROM THE LIQUID. 